Federal Government Needs New Perspective, Simplicity When Looking to Cloud

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Capitol

The federal government recognizes the impact cloud computing has on both government workers and everyday users, and government agencies are showing enthusiasm for potential cost savings associated with cloud.

But layers of memorandums and guidelines involving cloud computing, shared services, and data center consolidation, supplemented by the recent digital government strategy, are holding back and adding quite a bit of confusion to a cohesive cloud strategy.

What’s needed? Simplicity. Granted, government IT and simplicity rarely occupy the same sentence, but an overarching strategy should supplant the bits and pieces that make up compliance requirements and documents originating in the Office of Management and Budget.

“The comprehensive guide would eliminate redundancy and provide agencies with clear guidance on how to prioritize initiatives. It would go a long way toward reducing the cost of government and improving the delivery of services to citizens,” according to Michael Hettinger, director of the Public Sector Innovation Group at the Software and Information Industry Association. Read More

How to Become an App Developer

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Apple SDK

If you are looking for an exciting career that is at the forefront of modern technology, then you might be interested in learning about the field of application development. Applications (or apps, for short) are computer programs that are downloaded to mobile devices, and are used for everything from reserving a table at a restaurant to playing a game of virtual chess. When it comes to mobile apps, there is no limit to what you can create, other than your creativity and know-how. Want to know what it takes to enter this field? Here are the steps for how to become an app developer:

Learn everything you can about coding languages. Mobile apps can be developed in any of a wide array of languages, including CSS, Javascript, Python, and Flash. Learn what you can about these options, and then pick one or two that you are most interested in to master. You can build your skill as you go, but you cannot move forward without a working knowledge of at least one coding language. You don’t have to have any formal schooling to become an app developer, and fortunately, you can find all of the self-study materials you need on the Internet and at the library.

Decide which platform you which to design for. You may choose to create mobile apps for Blackberry, Android, or Apple mobile devices. Each platform is different and will require specific knowledge and skill. While you can convert your app for different platforms, it is a good idea to choose one to master and specialize in before attempting to design for others. Read More

Microsoft Contends With Google

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Microsoft vs Google

As more people turn to the cloud, the competition among cloud service providers has heightened. In particular, Microsoft and Google have made their way to the top of the pack, although there is still a big difference between these two providers.

In May, research firm Gartner Inc. reported that one-third to one-half of all businesses moving to the cloud for the first time are deciding to go Google. And this report came after a 2009 prediction by the same firm that said Microsoft would be outselling Google 4-to-1 by 2012, which turned out to be wrong. In light of these reports and other circumstances, Microsoft has taken great strides to contend with Google in the cloud.

Hoping to better attract customers and decrease the differences between Office 365, Microsoft’s hybrid cloud solution, and Google Apps, Google’s cloud service, Microsoft not only cut its prices by 20% this spring, but also added a new cloud platform.

Microsoft has a number of platforms available to businesses depending on the size of the business and the basic services for which it is looking. After its price cut, the least expensive version of Office 365 costs $48/user/year. This platform does not include the entire apps suite (so users must purchase add-ons to run the full suite as intended) and is available only to businesses with fewer than 50 people. In contrast, Google Apps for Business, the most costly version of Google Apps, costs $50/user/year. Read More

How to E-mail Google Analytics Reports Automatically

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Google Analytics Email Report

Google Analytics is the service of various data regarding activity on your website. These analytics are very imperative for SEO work and for deciding and implementing other website related strategies. With Google Analytics, you can easily monitor traffic on your website. You can know from which country visitors are coming to your website, what they are reading and much more. As we know, Google is the biggest player in IT industry today. Right now, Google solutions and tools are relied upon by major corporations even. Therefore, Google analytics is not only the concern for SEO professionals. Instead, all Chief Executives and Board of Directors want to know that how their websites are performing. For this rationale; knowing how to e-mail Google Analytics Reports Automatically is crucial for companies. Read More

Opening Up The Cloud

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3D little human character opens a massive door. Sky background with luminance.

With the strides being made in cloud computing in the last few years, it’s not surprising to learn that developers have created an open source cloud operating system for data centers. Just like Linux took hold as an open source operating system in the 90s and is still available today, OpenStack is likely to take hold as the open source alternative in the cloud computing world. The excitement surrounding the system is likely to fuel many improvements and developments in the coming years.

What is Linux and Why is it Popular?

People had been trying to create a free operating system since the early 1980s, but it wasn’t until 1991 that the first one was released for widespread public use. The creator, Linus Torvalds, first released the files to the public in August of 1991, and it was renamed Linux and put on a larger server for download the following month. Since then, millions of people have downloaded, installed and improved the Linux kernel, which was released in version 3.0 in 2011.

Some of the most commonly touted benefits of Linux include:

• The kernel is completely free to use, which makes it a great choice for people who want to install it on multiple machines without getting a licensed operating system for each one.

• People are constantly improving the operating system, which is open source, and sharing their improvements with others. One of the major benefits here is that the system protects very well against viruses because people set up fixes right away. Read More

PC Security – Top 5 Antivirus Protection Tools

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PC Security

If there’s anything that puts off the public about being online, it’s the malicious virus attacks. The best defense to ensure that you still experience the conveniences of the Internet is ensure that you access free antivirus. These days, free download antivirus options makes it easy to protect your computer. Installing the best antivirus software makes sure that you don’t receive spam, protect against illegal software and other harmful downloads, at the minimum.

Given that the user can very well apply varied precautions; malware can still rear its ugly head. Nothing can ruin your successful project than a sudden system failure or crash. Without any proper security backup one can’t ensure complete security from online threats. Read the general overview of some of the top notch free antivirus softwares as mentioned:

Immunet: A simple cloud based antivirus software, which can very well run along most antivirus packages to boost speed and compatibility of your system. Program includes cloud based nature and is lightweight too. It uses updated information from cloud and is not bulky to download at all. Read More

Creating a SQL Server Database for a Cloud Application

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Microsoft SQL Server

A database server is an integral part of any dynamic website. Hosting the database in the cloud speeds up applications, making it convenient for small or medium sized businesses to protect and back up the data.

For new businesses, the IT manager or software developer must make a new database on the SQL Server to get started with the business website. Microsoft includes SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) with the database engine, so the IT manager and software developers can connect to the cloud database server from anywhere in the world and create a new database.

Connect to the SQL Server

SSMS shows a login window before accessing the SQL Server engine. The cloud hosting company provides the business with the username and password and the IP address for the SQL Server. Type these three elements in the login window to connect to the server.

On the left side of the screen is a list of database components for the SQL Server. The center panel is where the SQL code is entered. For people new to SQL Server, no SQL code is needed to create a new database. Microsoft SQL Server has a wizard that walks the user through the setup process. Read More

Broadband in Britain: Of Progress and Monopolies

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Broadband

Although technology has advanced at breakneck speed, infrastructure has fallen behind in many places across the globe. Hard drives that held less than 100 gigabytes were far beyond what the average consumer needed a decade ago but now one terabyte is too restrictive for many, and most of the data which fills that space is attained through the Internet. In order for the economy to flourish in countries like the US and Britain, vast improvements will need to be made to accommodate both the increase in computational power and the businesses that would make use of it.

The BT Group, a telecommunications company headquartered in London, intends to facilitate the transition through their new fiber-optic network in Britain. Slated to reach two-thirds of the country’s population by 2015, it boasts connection speeds of 80Mbps compared to the 7.6Mpbs average of today. The total cost of the project is estimated at 2.5 billion pounds or roughly 4 billion US dollars.

Unfortunately, being the first out the gate means that they get to set the prices for everyone else. Their competitors have to pay them nearly twice as much to use the new infrastructure than they did with the old network, essentially turning BT into a monopoly and giving them control over the market. Read More

How to Find a Job in Network Administration

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Network Administration

Information technology is the place to be when you’re looking for a growing job market, especially in the field of network administration. Pretty much every company has some sort of computerized system that requires a network, along with the countless companies that need their own servers and data centers. Whether you’re working with a small business that just needs a basic network or you’re handling massive networks for an international company, opportunities abound in this field. The exact salary of a network administrator depends on the company size, whether you’re expected to perform advanced server administration tasks and a number of other factors. This job field continues to grow as network needs increase in every sector.

Network administrators are needed by companies in many different fields, from cloud computing providers like Rackspace hosting to mid-size accounting firms. While a great deal of your time is consumed with standard monitoring and maintenance, there are many tasks that keep administrators intellectually challenged. You have a few different education paths to pursue for network admin jobs. If you want to get a formal education, both two and four year programs are often sought after for job postings. Many different network certifications are also available. These certifications are considered invaluable and often required for certain job postings, as they demonstrate actual ability in a specific technology. The CISCO network certifications often get you a foot in the door, while Microsoft and CompTIA certifications are also powerful tools to put on your resume. Read More

eLearning: – Advantageous or not…

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eLearning

Beginning as a revolution, internet has become the important part of today’s world. Internet has connected the people from all over the world. Today, we can’t imagine the world without internet. Everything and everyone is getting online and the one who is missing it is really missing the immense power of the modern world. E-learning is used to refer computer based learning’s by the means of online conferencing; computer based training, computer-aided assessment, discussion boards. The aim of the eLearning is to supply the workforce with a cost-effective and up-to-date program that yields loyal, motivated, skilled knowledge workers.

But, like every coin has two sides, eLearning also has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of eLearning

Internet offers the logical solution for a company’s training and education objectives as most of the company’s already uses computers for their work. The growth of the high speed desktops, corporate networks and World Wide Web will make learning’s available to the learners 24 hours a day around the globe. This will enable business to distribute training to any location easily which will enable the employees to access the training at any time and location. Read More